This Maine Harbor Restaurant Serves An All-You-Can-Eat Lobster Feast Locals Swear Is Worth Every Penny
I grew up thinking “all-you-can-eat” was reserved for cheap pizza and bad salad bars, certainly not prime Maine lobster. When I heard about Stewman’s Lobster Pound in Bar Harbor offering a real, legitimate AYCE lobster feast, I was skeptical-and immediately hungry.
Could anyone truly eat enough to make the hefty upfront price worth it? My mission was clear: prove the AYCE title was earned. I strapped on my bib, sharpened my cracker, and prepared for a battle of wits (and stomachs) against the sea.
If the Maine locals swore by it, I had to find out why.
The Moment I Knew I’d Chosen Wisely
Salt spray mingles with lobster steam the second you sit down, and that first crack of the shell is a sound you won’t soon forget. Stewman’s operates two oceanfront locations, one Downtown on West Street and another at the Bar Harbor Regency, both offering live Maine lobster steamed to order and views that could sell postcards.
My table wobbled slightly on the weathered boards, but I didn’t care. The wind carried the scent of brine and butter, and gulls circled overhead like they knew something good was happening.
When the server set down that first scarlet lobster, still hissing with heat, I realized I’d made the right call coming here.
What The Feast Actually Looks Like On The Plate
Picture this: a whole steamed lobster, usually between one and one-and-a-quarter pounds, flanked by a pile of steamers or mussels still glistening in their shells. Corn on the cob sits next to boiled red potatoes, and a ramekin of drawn butter waits patiently for you to dunk every bite.
Stewman’s calls it the Down East lobster experience, and they’re not overselling. The menu lists options with that classic one-and-a-quarter-pound lobster paired with mussels, corn, and potatoes.
After you’ve demolished the main event, a slice of blueberry pie arrives to remind you that Maine does dessert just as well as seafood.
The Harbor Vibe
Lobster boats bob in the harbor just yards from your table, their rigging clinking softly in the breeze. Kids at the next table pick at shells with the concentration of surgeons, while a couple of locals nod hello as they walk past.
Wooden boards creak underfoot, and the whole scene feels pulled straight from a postcard you’d actually want to keep. Bar Harbor sits at the gateway to Acadia National Park, so the summer energy is thick with tourists and adventure seekers.
But at Stewman’s, that waterfront setting strips away the tourist-trap veneer and gives you something genuinely coastal, the kind of meal that makes you feel like you’ve earned your place at the table.
The All-You-Can-Eat Angle
Most Maine lobster pounds don’t run year-round endless buffets, and Stewman’s is no exception. What they do offer are authentic Downeast lobster bakes and large-group lobster-feast events that capture that bottomless-spirit celebration without turning into a free-for-all.
I showed up on a feast night last August, and the energy was electric. Long tables were packed with locals and visitors alike, everyone cracking claws and trading stories.
The lobsters kept coming in waves, and while it wasn’t technically infinite, the portions were generous enough that nobody left hungry. It’s the kind of event that turns strangers into friends by the second round of butter.
Little Technical Truths For Flavor And Credibility
Maine lobsters are officially called American lobsters, scientifically known as Homarus americanus, and they thrive in the cold Gulf of Maine waters that give the meat its prized sweet flavor. The chilly temperatures slow their growth, which means denser, more flavorful flesh than you’d find in warmer climates.
Stewman’s operates seasonally, with peak crowds rolling in from summer through early fall when the lobster harvest is at its best. The restaurant’s commitment to serving live lobster steamed to order means you’re getting the freshest possible product, pulled from traps that morning and cooked within hours.
That’s the kind of detail that separates a good meal from a great one.
Practical Tips
Go early or pick a weekday if you’re visiting between July and September, because the summer crowds can be intense. Stewman’s gets packed fast, especially during peak tourist season, and they don’t take reservations for smaller parties under certain sizes.
Call ahead to ask about event nights and seasonal hours, since the schedule shifts depending on the time of year. Timing really does matter here. I learned the hard way that showing up at six on a Saturday in August means you’re competing with half the Eastern Seaboard for a table.
If you can swing it, aim for late afternoon or early evening on a Tuesday or Wednesday, and you’ll have a much smoother experience.
Why The Price Tag Doesn’t Scare Off The Regulars
Lobster feasts aren’t cheap, and Stewman’s doesn’t pretend otherwise. But locals keep coming back because the freshness, the waterfront setting, and the ritual of cracking shells with strangers create something money can’t quite buy.
There’s a certain satisfaction in earning a real Maine meal, one where you work for every bite and leave with butter stains on your shirt as proof. The views alone could justify the cost, but when you factor in lobster pulled from the water that morning and cooked to perfection, it starts to feel like a bargain.
Regulars will tell you the same thing: you’re not just paying for food, you’re paying for the whole experience, and that’s worth every penny.
The Love Note
Freshness is the foundation, but the magic happens when you combine it with a waterfront sunset, the sound of waves lapping against the pier, and the shared ritual of cracking shells with people you’ve never met. Stewman’s delivers that intangible feeling of having earned something special, a real Maine meal that sticks with you long after the last bite.
Locals swear by it because it never feels like a tourist trap, even when tourists are everywhere. It’s the kind of place where you leave with a story, a few new friends, and probably a lobster bib tucked in your bag as a souvenir.
Bring your appetite, a few good friends, and get ready to make memories.